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What is a bill of lading?

Last reviewed by José Luis Pérez

A bill of lading (BOL) is the receipt a carrier issues for the freight it picks up, and the document that describes the shipment. Federal law requires a motor carrier to issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it receives, and failing to issue one does not reduce the carrier's liability (49 U.S.C. § 14706(a)(1)). One carrier's glossary describes it as "a legal contract between the shipper and the carrier" (R+L Carriers).

What a motor carrier bill of lading must show

For interstate shipments, 49 CFR § 373.101 requires a for-hire motor carrier's bill of lading to show:

  1. The names of the consignor (shipper) and the consignee (receiver).
  2. The origin and destination points.
  3. The number of packages.
  4. A description of the freight.
  5. The weight, volume or measurement of the freight, if it affects the rate.

The carrier must keep a record of this information. In practice, bills of lading carry much more: the date, references such as a purchase order, the freight class or NMFC item, special instructions and signatures. Those extra fields come from the carrier's form or your own, not from this rule.

Why the bill of lading matters after pickup

The bill of lading is what the carrier checks the shipment against:

  • Inspection. One carrier's rules tariff says every shipment is subject to inspection, and that a commodity description too vague to classify may be billed at class 150 and inspected (XPO, Tariff CNWY 199, Item 26).
  • Corrections. The same tariff gives 30 days to correct a bill of lading and requires documentary proof for a change of description, density, class or weight (Item 205).
  • Delivery conditions. It asks the shipper to mark residential or limited-access deliveries on the bill of lading, and notes that a fee can apply even if the shipper did not (Item 224).
  • Claims. If freight is lost or damaged, the shipment must be identified in the claim; the bill of lading is the natural reference. See LTL freight claims.

How to fill out a bill of lading for LTL

  • Use the full legal names and addresses of shipper and consignee, with a contact phone.
  • Count handling units and pieces separately (for example, 2 pallets, 24 cartons).
  • Describe the commodity in plain words, specific enough to classify it.
  • Enter the weight of each handling unit as it will ship, and the dimensions if the carrier asks for them.
  • Request accessorial services you know you need, such as a liftgate or an appointment.
  • Keep a signed copy from pickup.

Record the measurements first with the shipment measurement sheet, and calculate the density with the freight density calculator.

Bill of lading vs. freight bill

The bill of lading describes what was shipped. The freight bill is the carrier's invoice for moving it. Comparing the two is the first check when an invoice comes in higher than expected. See freight bill and PRO number.

This guide is not legal advice.

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